The Daktronics Experience

We’ve made it to 100 podcast episodes! And what a better way to celebrate than talking with Tim Jackson, General Manager, and Steve Richards, Director of Ballpark Entertainment of the Round Rock Express. We talked about them needing to get creative last year with how they used their new displays and their facility when the pandemic hit as well as how they hosted different types of events, how they did it safely, and how they have to think of new ways to activate sponsorships going into this year.

• Daktronics Photo Gallery
• CMT Granger Smith Concert “It looks likes this is how we concert now” article.
• Round Rock Express Website
• Round Rock Express YouTube Channel

The madness is about to begin! As such, Justin and Matt sat down with Val Arias and Brandon McRae, Daktronics account service managers, to talk about the bubbles for the upcoming college basketball championships in Indiana and Texas. They share how Daktronics is involved with LED technology and support at certain venues, including the host of the men’s and women’s championship games at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Alamodome, respectively.

• Daktronics News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Daktronics-Venues-Supporting-College-Basketball-Madness.aspx

A new baseball season is almost ready to swing into action and that means ballparks are also getting ready to turn on their systems for 2021. Justin and Matt are joined by Stephanie Walker, Daktronics live events services manager, to hear some tips for getting your systems up and running, things to check for, content and control system considerations, and more.

• Royals Crownvision upgrade: https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1353734381270130689
• Royals news release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Upgraded-HDR-Capable-LED-Technology-from-Daktronics-to-Improve-Experience-for-Kansas-City-Royals.aspx
• Rangers news release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Texas-Rangers-Introducing-Nine-LED-Displays.aspx
• Product Maintenance Guide
• Control system start-up & shutdown procedure
• NEW Baseball Essentials Package
  • MLB Package
  • MiLB Package

Capturing people’s attention as they pass by is one aspect while entertaining them while inside is another. To hear how LED displays play a part in both aspects, Justin and Matt talk with James Fuchsel, Sign Consultant for La Crosse Sign Group; Alan Harper, Executive Account Manager for AVI Systems; and Chris Ebben, Attractions Director for Wilderness Resort.

• La Crosse Sign Group Website: https://www.lacrossesign.com/
• AVI Systems Website: https://www.avisystems.com/
• Wilderness Resort Website: https://www.wildernessresort.com/

What happens when a team is forced to relocate to a different stadium for their remaining home games during a pandemic? Explore that story and more as Justin and Matt are joined by Laura Johnson, Director Game Presentation & Live Events at the San Francisco 49ers. She shares her journey from a 5-year-old keeping score at parks and recreation basketball to Peoria Sports Complex to the 49ers and everything in between. She even shares her experiences of attending the Daktronics NFL User Group in Brookings, South Dakota.

• Peoria Sports Complex: https://www.peoriasportscomplex.com/ 
• Digital Audio Facade: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/products/audio-systems/digital-audio-facade 

LED video displays can be used in many different applications as highlighted by Paul Chandler, Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC) Executive Director. He joins Justin and Matt to share his history, how they uniquely implemented an LED display at their venue, how they used it for events during COVID-19 and much more.  

• GPAC Website: https://www.gpacweb.com/

When an NFL stadium gets new Daktronics technology, they aren’t just handed the remote and told to have fun turning on their new TV. Our experts are on site for training to ensure they know how to maximize their new investment. Justin and Matt are joined by Ashley Cummings, Control System Specialist at Daktronics, to hear what it’s like to get NFL teams and venues up and running after their display installation. She also shares her path to her position, information about our upcoming NFL User Group and more.

Do you ever wonder where the stats come from that pop up on the video board or your phone when looking at scores and how players perform in certain situations? To answer that question, Justin and Matt are joined by Stephanie Brown, Partnership Manager of the Americas at Stats Perform. She shares the goals of Stats Perform, how they have partnered with Daktronics, the different outlets that rely on their data and much more.

• Stats Perform Website: statsperform.com
• State Perform Thought Piece: https://www.statsperform.com/resource/how-data-can-transform-the-fan-experience-in-sports-stadiums/

This year was different than anyone could have expected. To get a summary of what happened at Daktronics during 2020, Justin and Matt are joined by Will Ellerbruch, our National Sales Manager in Live Events. Will chimes in on many different Live Events projects as well as some overall Daktronics happenings from the year, such as how we’ve adapted during the pandemic and much, much more.

• Daktronics Innovate Webinars: www.daktronics.com/innovate
• Daktronics Showroom: www.daktronics.com/showroom
• Big Stream Podcast Episode: http://podcast.daktronics.com/e/66-introducing-big-stream-with-kyle-and-chris/
• Texas Rangers Podcast Episode: http://podcast.daktronics.com/e/90-texas-rangers-opening-a-new-ballpark/
• Cincinnati Reds Blog Post: https://blog.daktronics.com/2019/12/04/cincinnati-reds-first-to-install-all-hdr-system/
• Kansas City Chiefs News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Daktronics-Upgrades-Arrowhead-Stadium-for-Kansas-City-Chiefs.aspx
• Syracuse University News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Syracuse-University-Debuts-the-Largest-Centerhung-in-College-Sports.aspx
• Alabama Tunnel Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1286345688381759
• Westgate Project Photo: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/photos/details?pn=WP-024080&cid=179618-005
• Circa News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Worlds-Largest-Sportsbook-Informs-Entertains-Bettors-at-Circa-Resort-Casino.aspx
• Krispy Kreme Project Photo: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/photos/details?pn=WP-023457&cid=125337-006
• Marquee Media Triplets News Release: https://www.daktronics.com/news/Pages/Daktronics-and-Marquee-Media-Team-Up.aspx

It always feels good to pay something off early, and Lance Moffett, Director of Athletics and Head Football Coach at Fredericksburg ISD, knows the feeling! Justin and Matt talked with Lance to hear how they paid off their LED video board early, how they plan to use their additional income and much more.

• Fredericksburg ISD Webpage: https://www.fisd.org/
• Fredericksburg Project Photo: https://www.daktronics.com/en-us/photos/details?pn=WP-20461&cid=112766-003